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The phrase has been in common usage since the 13th Century. The word 'mum' is an adaption of 'mmm' as in a humming sound made with a closed mouth, suggesting an unwillingness to speak.
This expression dates from about 1700, but mum, meaning "silence," is much older. In 2 Henry VI (1:2) Shakespeare wrote, "Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum."

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8y ago
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16y ago

Origin: Since 1350, "mum" has meant silent. The word itself sounds like a person trying to talk with their lips shut tight. This expression became extremely popular in the 1700's.

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15y ago

when a toddler called his mother mum

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Q: Where did the idiom 'Mum's the Word' originate from?
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